Deep Waters by Jayne Ann Krentz Page A

long, perfect, California red nails, everyone else just used nail clippers.”
    â€œHow scandalous was the divorce?”
    Charity regarded him with speculation. “You know, you don’t look like the type to be interested in sordid gossip.”
    â€œI collect information,” Elias said softly. “Sort of a hobby.”
    â€œHmm, well, according to Radiance, the whole thing blew up one day early last summer when Gwendolyn showed the old Rossiter place to some clients. They all walked into the cottage, which is located in a very isolated location near the point, and found Jennifer and Leighton in bed together.”
    â€œNot a pretty picture.”
    â€œNo. Radiance told me that Leighton and Jennifer had been using the Rossiter place for their rendezvous for several weeks before they were discovered.”
    â€œRough way for Gwen to learn that her husband was cheating on her,” Elias said.
    â€œYes. You can imagine how the gossip flared up again when Gwen and her Voyagers arrived in town last month.”
    Elias looked down at the beach and watched as Gwendolyn held forth on the exciting events that would take place on the fifteenth. “Something tells me that the fuel that runs Gwendolyn Pitt’s engine comes from something more than old-fashioned power and greed.”
    Charity was suddenly acutely aware of the swift fall of night. The shadows were lengthening around the looming motor homes and campers. “What else besides power and money could motivate her to go to all this effort?”
    Elias shifted his enigmatic gaze from the scene on the beach to Charity’s face. “You have to ask me that after what I just told you about my plans for Garrick Keyworth?”
    â€œVengeance? But that doesn’t make any sense. How could all this”—Charity spread her free arm out to indicate the Voyagers and their campground—“be about vengeance?”
    â€œI don’t know. I’m only saying that there are other motives in the world besides power and money.”
    The cove breeze shifted. It tugged at Charity’s shirtsleeves. She pushed a tendril of hair out of her eyes. “Maybe we’ll get the answers on the morning after the spaceships fail to show.”
    â€œMaybe.” Elias’s enigmatic gaze rested on her face.
    â€œThere’s one thing I’m certain of,” Charity continued.
    â€œWhat’s that?”
    She wrinkled her nose in disgust. “Gwen Pitt’s motives might be obscure, but her sleazy right-hand man, Rick Swinton, is very obvious. He’s in this for the money. I’d stake Whispers on it.”
    â€œI haven’t run into Swinton yet.”
    â€œYou haven’t missed anything.” Charity shuddered. “A real creep.”
    Elias eyed her. “That sounds personal.”
    â€œIt is. He made a pass at me shortly after the Voyagers got here. The cove is not exactly a mecca for singles, but I wasn’t desperate enough to go out with him. When I declined his invitation, he told me I’d be sorry.”
    Elias grew still. “He threatened you?”
    â€œNot exactly. Just said I’d regret turning him down.” Charity smiled. “Believe me, I didn’t.”
    â€œI’ll keep an eye out for him.” Elias’s hand tightenedon hers. “In the meantime, I’ve got another very important question.”
    The dark velvet of his voice sent more little chills of excitement down her spine. “What’s that?”
    â€œI’ve been wondering,” he said very softly, “how your mouth tastes.”
    She stared at him. “I beg your pardon?”
    â€œI’ve been thinking about it for the past ten days.” He pulled her gently, inexorably, closer.
    She met his eyes, saw the controlled desire in him, and was nearly overwhelmed by the sense of inevitability that descended on her. She knew then that she had been waiting for this ever since he